Flower Fiancé Chapter 118

“Exactly. He came home at dawn again today, but he woke up early on purpose to drop me off before going to work. I’m grateful, but I also feel sorry.”

“Enjoy it while you can. I’m envious—we had days like that too.”

“Why do you say that? You still seem happy now.”

“Hoho, is that so?”

The Boss let out a hearty laugh, as if reminiscing about old times. Ji Yeonwoo, wearing a calm smile, gave a slight bow toward the Boss.

“Please continue to help me a lot, Boss.”

“Aigo, you’re saying what I should be saying.”

Joking around, the Boss patted Ji Yeonwoo’s shoulder reassuringly.

Just as the arrangement of the newly arrived flowers was nearly finished, opening time approached. Starting with a customer who came to pick up flowers ordered the day before, a lively day began.

Many customers came and went, but he didn’t feel tired at all. He was happy to be able to work again, and even when he occasionally felt drained and exhausted, seeing Geon crawling around through video calls from the madam made his energy surge back.

“Phew…”

Ji Yeonwoo, with the sleeves of his cobalt blue knit rolled up and a beige apron over it, let out a soft sigh only after all the customers had left, surveying the quiet shop.

The interior of <Flower Fiancé>, which had become even larger after knocking down walls to combine two storefronts, was filled with flowers of every color. From roses, which were commonly sought after, to the pale pink ranunculus that was like a signature of <Flower Fiancé>. This time, he operated mainly with imported flowers.

Had his efforts paid off? Thankfully, the shop quickly found its footing. At first, it was mostly regular customers who had frequently visited before, but about two months after opening, the number of people coming in just to browse increased noticeably. Not all visitors led to purchases, but with more people coming and going, that itself served as promotion and had the effect of drawing in others.

“Thank you. Please come again.”

Ji Yeonwoo bowed toward a departing customer and straightened up.

With a clear bell sound, the closed door opened again.

“You’re busy.”

Hearing a familiar voice, Ji Yeonwoo turned around, and a smile spread across his face.

“Mr. Moohyuk.”

Coming around from the island counter, Ji Yeonwoo approached Choi Moohyuk as he walked into the shop.

“How did you come at this hour?”

His face showed surprise at the unexpected appearance, but inside, there was also excitement.

“I stopped by on my way back after a meeting. I was thinking we could have lunch together.”

“Right now?”

Ch 57

“Why, do you have an appointment?”

When Ji Yeonwoo hesitated, Choi Moohyuk asked again. Of course, he was happy to go on a date with Choi Moohyuk. It was because they hadn’t been able to have proper dates while taking care of Geon. Of course, the madam was there, but they couldn’t exactly leave Geon and go out to spend private time together.

Moreover, in the past two months, Ji Yeonwoo had been busier than anyone due to the reopening of <Flower Fiancé>. Leaving the shop empty was a bit burdensome, but it also seemed like there wouldn’t be another opportunity if not now.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll just put up a sign saying I’ve gone out for lunch and leave.”

Ji Yeonwoo said with a smile.

Choi Moohyuk stroked his white, soft cheek with the back of his hand. His face was already thin, and he’d lost even more weight. Watching him work so hard made him feel sorry for him, but seeing him manage with a bright face without showing any signs of difficulty also made him proud.

“Let’s talk as we go. If we want to take a walk too, time will be tight.”

Taking off his apron and hanging it over the island counter, Ji Yeonwoo came closer with a small smile.

“You want to go for a walk too?”

“Of course. Did you think I came just to have a meal and part ways?”

Choi Moohyuk wrapped his arm around Ji Yeonwoo’s shoulder as he came to his side and walked out of the shop.

“We’re going to eat, have coffee, take a walk—all of it. What do you think?”

“Wow, now I see you had everything planned out?”

Hearing the smoothly flowing plan, Ji Yeonwoo pursed his lips into a round O and marveled. Choi Moohyuk brought his face close to Ji Yeonwoo and gave him a short kiss.

“Obviously.”

Choi Moohyuk opened the passenger door so Ji Yeonwoo could get in.

The two headed to a pho restaurant near the shop. Choi Moohyuk wanted to go somewhere nicer, but Ji Yeonwoo strongly recommended this place. It was a restaurant he went to whenever he craved pho, and it was also famous for being run directly by a Vietnamese couple. They were the owners of such amazing skill that even Choi Moohyuk, who didn’t particularly like pho, had become a regular.

After eating pho, Choi Moohyuk and Ji Yeonwoo got coffee to go and headed to a nearby park.

This was also the park where they had strolled and spent time together when they were dating. It was quiet with few people, and on nice days, they used to lay out a mat in the shade and lie on it to pass the time.

Now that both Choi Moohyuk and Ji Yeonwoo had become busy, it would be hard to enjoy such leisurely days, but just walking through the park with a cup of coffee in hand was enough of a change of pace.

After walking through the park for a while, the two sat down on an empty bench. In one hand, each held a warm cup of coffee; in the other, their fingers were interlaced.

Moving his legs alternately and looking around the park, Ji Yeonwoo let out a low hum and looked up at the sky. The sky was high and blue without a single cloud in sight.

He turned his head. His eyes met Choi Moohyuk’s, who had been staring at him. Smiling silently, Ji Yeonwoo leaned his head against Choi Moohyuk’s shoulder. He could feel Choi Moohyuk’s pheromones, thick with the scent of magnolia flowers. Mmm, so good. As he murmured softly, Choi Moohyuk laughed in a low voice.

But the peaceful, love-filled park stroll did not last long.

About twenty minutes into their walk, a call came in from a regular customer. Hearing them ask if he had gone far, he couldn’t bring himself to say he was on a walk in the park, so he had to turn back.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay longer with you.”

“Looking at you, I think you’re busier than me, the company representative.”

Unlike the gentle hand turning the steering wheel, his voice was gruff. From Choi Moohyuk’s profile facing forward, a deep regret emanated. Feeling sorry, Ji Yeonwoo stared at that face intently.

Seeing they were almost at the shop, Ji Yeonwoo leaned over and pressed a kiss to Choi Moohyuk’s cheek.

“Instead, let’s definitely go on a date on your day off.”

“You’re bailing on me, and you think that’s enough?”

“W-Well, isn’t it?”

Pulling over to the side of the road, Choi Moohyuk looked at Ji Yeonwoo and tapped his own lower lip with his index finger. Flustered by the bold request, Ji Yeonwoo glanced around unnecessarily. It was broad daylight, and in front of the closed shop, a regular customer was waiting.

“Hurry up. The customer is waiting.”

Choi Moohyuk grabbed the passenger seat and leaned his body closer toward Ji Yeonwoo.

“Looking at you, I think you’re getting more and more sly.”

“You take that as a compliment, right?”

Ji Yeonwoo playfully glared at Choi Moohyuk, then carefully leaned in and pressed his lips to Choi Moohyuk’s. Just as he was about to pull away after pressing their soft lips together until they molded, Choi Moohyuk wrapped one hand around the nape of his neck and began to kiss him.

As he breathed in with a gasp, the tongue parted his lips and pushed in. The tongue, which swept across his teeth and invaded without hesitation, stirred inside his mouth. Their tongues tangled and sucked wetly, exploring each other.

After exchanging such a short yet intense kiss, Choi Moohyuk finally released Ji Yeonwoo.

Leaving the regret behind, Ji Yeonwoo got out of the car and approached the waiting customer.

“Have you been waiting long? I’m a little late because I was coming back from lunch.”

Though he had gotten out of the car, Ji Yeonwoo’s face was flushed red, as if he had just run a 100-meter sprint. The customers, who had no idea what had happened inside the car, could only stare with puzzled expressions.

After the customers left with their wrapped flowers, Ji Yeonwoo was left alone in the shop. He pulled out his phone. It was because sending Choi Moohyuk off like that had weighed on his mind.

— Mr. Moohyuk, are you busy?

[A little. Did the customer leave?]

— Yes. It seemed they urgently needed flowers for their company meeting room.

[Still, it’s nice that they remember and come find you.]

Exchanging messages, Ji Yeonwoo saw Choi Moohyuk’s warm reply and a smile curved at the corners of his mouth.

[I’ll pick you up in the evening. We’ll go home together.]